No No No Riddim – Puppy Records

Rough-cut energy. The No No No riddim leans on that unmistakable old-school backbone, with the original Dawn Penn tune from 1967 clearly echoing through the later cuts, but Puppy Records’ 1972 outing pushes it into tougher roots territory. Big Youth’s “Screaming Target” is the obvious anchor here, and Barry Brown’s “Movements Of Jah” plus Tristan Palmer’s “For Health and Strength” keep the set in deep conscious mode, while Jah Thomas and Sister Jackie bring a more playful side on “Cockee and Pussy. ” It’s interesting how this sits beside the better-known Augustus Clarke versions of the same riddim family: Puppy’s take feels leaner and more chant-driven, less polished but heavy in its own way. For a label credit that’s a little fuzzy in the archive, this still lands as a sharp early-’70s roots session that connects neatly to the long life of the No No No riddim.

No No No Riddim Tracklist:

1. Barry Brown – NO NO NO- Movements Of Jah
2. Big Youth – Screaming Target
3. Clarance Parks – NO NO NO- No No No
4. Dawn Penn & Bounty Killer & De – NO NO NO- No No No
5. Jah Thomas & Sister Jackie – NO NO NO- Cockee & Pussy
6. Ranking Forrest – Go Deh Brother Ben
7. Tonto Irie – NO NO NO- Experience
8. Toyan – NO NO NO- Praise Him
9. Tristan Palmer – NO NO NO- For Health & Strength